Where were the first modern day Olympic Games held?

The ancient Olympics are believed to have been born in Greece. Everything started with a foot race, and later other sport events were added. The well-known International Olympic Committee met for the first time in Paris in June, 1894. It was decided to hold the first modern Olympics in the native country of the games. The games began on the 6th of April, 1896. James Brendan Connolly, an American athlete, became the first modern Olympic champion in history. He competed in the triple jump and finished about a meter ahead the nearest sportsman. By the way, Connolly was expelled from Harvard because of the Games, as his request for a leave of absence was denied there, but he left for Greece anyway.

More Info: www.history.com

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47 Comments

John W Shreve

Karen Weissling Talamantes, Good idea. The politics involved today are both unnecessary and disgusting.

Maia

Confusing wording "modern day" would probably NOT mean in B. C.! Of course, everyone knows Olympic Games originated in Greece, even me.

Jerry Heitzman

The Olympic games were held to be one of the two central rituals in ancient Greece, the other being the much older religious festival, the Eleusinian Mysteries. The games first started in Olympia, Greece, in a sanctuary site for the Greek deities near the towns of Elis and Pisa (both in Elis on the peninsula of Peloponnesos ).

birdofprey

Ah, where else would a educated society have them but Athens?

james parrillo

patrhea, I checked. The first Olympic games were in Olympia, Greece. they were known as the game to honor the gods. Thank you, Christine, James;s wife

dsneed

Took a shot got it right. That's what logic will do for you.

Glynis Rix

Wasn't thinking straight & got it wrong!

Janice Lea Vanlandingham

Cheryl McMeekin, and that is the other thing that needs to be rethought. I feel that the host countries are price gouging! Also many of the past sites are being torn up or defamed with taggers. They might as well make it like a circus where it is erected for the games and removed afterward. The only thing that should mark the games would be a statue of the Olympic symbol denoting the year(s).

Janice Lea Vanlandingham

Essel Kwasi Addo, Every one. The Olympics was at one time considered the time when differences were dropped, for example in WWII. but with the 70's came the violence, hostage taking, acts involving political issues. Those who are too single minded to respect the intent and origin of the Olympics.